Fluid-mixing device



C. DEDERER. FLUID mxmc DEVICE. d APPLlCA'TlON FiLED FEB. 23, I9l6. 1,366,120, Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

IN V EN TOR.

C. DEDEHER.

FLUID MIXING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, 1916.

1 ,366, 120, Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

IN VEN TOR.

CARLETON DEDERER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

FLUID-MIXING DEVICE.

Application filed February 23, 1916. Serial No. 79,878.

To allwhom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CARLETON Dnnnnne, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fluid-l\[ixing Devices, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to fluidmixing devices, and more particularly to fluid mixing devices comprising fluid control de vices, a mixing device, and a pedal means for operating said control devices whereby an operator by the use of one loot may control the same independently or simultaneously, and the invention has for its object to provide a device of the general character stated which will be relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and organization when its advantages oi superiority in manipulation are considered.

Pedal operated devices as ordinarily constructed, require considerable practice and dexterity for their successful operation, and frequently where such devices are installed in hospitals and the like, a visiting surgeon finds it difficult to manipulate the pedal gear to obtain a satisfactory mixture of hot and cold water. In aseptic surgery where unsanitary plugs in wash basins are not permissible, and a running stream of mixed hot and cold water is used, the advantages of the mixing devices hereinafter described are apparent.

In accordance with. the present invention a mixing device is provided in which, through the agency of a torsion pedal gear organized and connected as hereinafter described, even. an unskilled operator may, by downward pressure applied. to a lateral portion of the pedal, cause the operation of one fluid control device, and by such pressure on another lateral portion of the pedal cause the operation oianother fluid control device, or cause the operation of both such control devices simultaneously by proper manipulation by means of a foot, to cause the discharge of the desired mixture. This renders the device fitfor installation in public places, as for instance, hotels, barber shops, railway stations, etc. Installation for use in such places greatly adds to the general public health and sanitation as well as comfort and convenience.

With the above and other objects in view, th invent on ee si t n t e ov l a e Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

iul provision, formation, combination, asso- (J1ELblOIl, l"6lktll-1'\ 6 arrangement, and mode-of connection and operationof parts, members and features, all as hereinafter described,

shown in the drawings, and finally pointed out in claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an isometric view showing a mixlng device constructed and organized in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail side elevation of certain features shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a modified form of mixing device;

Fig. l is a detail fragmentary plan view oi. the inner end of one of the adjustable branch e coni'lections at the base of the discharge pipe shown in Fin. 8, a portion being broken away and shown in section;

F ig. 5 is an enlar ed sectional view of certain. features shown in Fig. 3.

In the several figures the parts are designated by reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawing, in the embodiment of the invention therein shown, A. designates a mixing device, B designates a hot water control device,-@ (:lesig'nates a cold water control device, D designates means for operating the devices B and C simultaneously or independently by manipulation of the foot of the user, E designates means of operative connection for the means D and the control device B, and F designates means of operative connection for the means D and means C Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the Inixing device A. is shown as a conduit or pipe 5 having integral divergent branch pipes 6 and 7, the branch pipe 6 leading from and being; connected with the hot water control device B as at 8, and the branch pipe 7 leading from an d being connected with the cold water control device C, as at 9. The pipe A. preferably extends upwardly and terminates in a goose-neck 10 or other form of discharge nozzle or mouth, shown as dis charging into a basin 11.

The hot water control device B preferably consists of a valve device or faucet 12 of standard. construction, and of the self closing type provided with an internal spring. which spring may be employed to hold one portion of the means D normally in elevated position. The faucet 12 is provid d with a l er cqnneeting mean 13 by means of which it is operated through the agency of the connecting means E, upon operation of that portion of the pedal means lying to the respective side of the center (Z of the pedal means.

The cold water control device C preferably consists of a valve device or, faucet 14: of standard construction similar to the device B, and of the self-closing type pro vided with an internal spring, which springmay be employed to hold one portion of the means D in normally elevated position.

The valves 12 and M of the hot and cold water pipes are shown in Fig. l as provided with ordinary rotary handles of that type which are formed with a series of radial arms. The effective length of one of these arms is increased by fitting an attachment or extension 2* thereto, said attachment being shown in detail by Fig. 2.

The lever attachment 2 is perforated at its outer end for connection with the respective means E or F, and the inner end of the lever attachment 2 is provided with a. plurality of fingers or arms 2 which may grasp the conventional faucet handles shown in Fig. 2 and be bound thereto by means of a binding wire 2, thus producing a device which may be readily attached to faucet handles which might otherwise require modification in the conversion of standard faucets into control units for use in connection with the operating means D.

The U-shaped lever 15 which constitutes the means D is formed of some suitable flexible material such as spring steel, the resiliency of the metal enabling either of the arms 16 or 1'? of the U-shaped lever to be operated independently of the other arm, although the cross bar is sufficiently stiff to enable both of the arms to be simultaneously operated by the application of foot pressure to an'intermediate portion thereof. Either the hot or cold water control device B or C can thus be operated. depending upon whether the pressure of the foot is applied to the right or left hand portion of the lever. Also the hot and cold water can be mixed in any desired proportions by moving the foot along the cross bar of the ll-shaped lever and applying pressure to proper portions thereof. The left hand portion 16 of the lever is bent to extend rearwardly and terminates at a hinge or pivot 20 secured to a floor or wall as a support for that portion of the lever. The right hand portion 17 of the 1ever15 .is also bent to extend rearwardly andterminates at a hinge or pivot 21, by meansof which it is connected to a floor or wall for support. The right and left. hand lever portions 16 and 17 are connected with the operating means E and F- as at 18 and 19, respectively. i

v To further facilitate in operating the device, and relieve the springs provided in the faucets of undue strain, or to supplant such springs. a light spring 22 may be provided, preferably at the point of junction of the lever portions 16 and 17.

The means of operative connection E is shown as a rod connected to the respective lever 2 of the hot water control device C and connected to the portion 16 of the pedal operating means D. as at 18.

The means of operative connection F is shown as a rod connected to the respective lever 2 of the hot water control means C and connected to the portion 17 of the pedal operating means D, as at 19.

Referring now to the form shown in Figs. 3. 4; and 5. the mixing device A. is shown as an attachable conduit or pipe 23 having angularly adjustable divergent branch pipes Q-l and leading therefrom. the branch pipe being connected with the hot water control device B, shown as a faucet of standard construction, as at 26, and the branch pipe 25 being connected with a cold water control device C, shown as a faucet of standard construction, as at 27. The branch pipes2-fl and 25 are each divided into two telescopic sections the branch pipe 24- terminating in an enlarged section 28 which may be provided with a packing device as at ll, and the branch pipe 25 terminating in an enlarged section 29 which may be provided with a packing device as at 49. The pipe 23 prcferably is bent into a goose-neck and is slightly tapered at its lower end as at 23 and is provided with a plurality of parts 43 and 44-. T he pipe is closed at the extreme lower end as at 23" and is externally threaded near such end to receive a binding nut The branch pipes 24.- aud 25 are fitted over the conical portion of the pipe 23. as shown in 5. the port 4:3 registering with the branch pipe 24; and the port 4-4 rcgistering with the branch pipe 25. The nut holds the parts in assemblage.

in the t" of hot water control device B shown. an operating handle extends from the body 30 and is fulcrumed thereon for vertical swinging movement and an extension 32 of such operating handle is provided to carry the means of operative connection clear of adjacent parts.

The cold water control device C has a body portion 31 and a handle extending therefrom and fulcrumed thereon for vertical swinging movement, and such handle may be provided with an extension 33 to carry the means of operative connection F clear of adjacent parts.

The pedal operating means D is shown as a lever 39 whose portions 40 and 41. are bent rearwardly and hinged or pivoted to a suitable support asat 37 and 38 respectively. The portion 40 is connected with the hot water control device B through the means of operative connection E and the portion ll is connected with the cold water control device C through the" means of operative connection F.

The means of operative connection E preferably comprises a flexible member 34 which may be a chain having one end connected to the lever 32 and the other end connected to the portion of the pedal means D. M

The means of operative connection F preferably consists of a flexible member 35, which may be a chain having one end connected to the lever 33 and the other end connected to the portion 41 of the pedal means D.

The operation, method of use and advantages of the improved mixing device will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the following statement:

By pressure applied by means of a foot of the user at the central portion of the pedal operating means D, in either form of the invention shown, in such manner as to operate both right and left hand portions oi? the pedal simultaneously, both the hot and cold water control devices B and C will be operated through the connections E and F, while greater pressure on one of the portions of the pedal 15 will cause an increase in volume of flow through the respective control devices connected with that portion of the lever and a corresponding decrease in flow through the other control device; it will thus be seen, that due to the torsional yielding of the lever one of the control de vices may be operated, while the other remains in inoperative position, simply by applying downward pressure to the respective portion of the lever; in this manner any desired or required mixture of hot and cold water or either hot or cold water may be caused to discharge through the mixing device A.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a fluid mixing device, a common dis charge means, a hot fluid control device, a cold fluid control device, and a unitary flexi ble operating lever; said lever being adapted to control both said hot and said cold fluid to cause the operation of said hot and said 7 cold fluid control devices simultaneously or independently upon application of downward pressure to respective portions of said. operating member.

3. An operating pedal for fluid mixing devices comprising a continuous flexible U- shaped member, and means of pivotal 'connection-between the ends of said member and a suitable support.

4. In a fluid mixing device, a hot fluid control device, a cold fluid control device, a common discharge pipe for said devices, a pedal member yieldable throughout its length, means of operative connection between one portion of said pedal member and said hot fluid control device, and means of operative connection between another portion of said pedal member and said cold fluid control device.

5. In a fluid mixing device, separate fluid control devices, an operating device, and means operatively connecting said fluid con trol devices to said operating device at spaced points thereon, that portion of the operating device between said points of operative connection being continuously flexible to control the relative amount of operation of said control devices with respect to each other.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GARLETON DEDERER.

Witnesses:

F. ALICE CRANDALL, FRANCIS L. Isemee. 

